Stuffed Bitter Melon with Minced Pork Black Bean Sauce 䜴汁豬肉釀苦瓜

Stuffed Bitter Melon with Minced Pork Ginger Garlic Black Bean Sauce 䜴汁豬肉釀苦瓜

Ingredients:

For stuffed bitter melons

  • 1 piece pork shoulder or pork chop, 1 lb (500 g);
  • 2 bitter melons, about 1 lb (500 g);
  • 4 pieces small dry squids;
  • 1/2 tablespoon minced ginger;
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch;
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil;
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) water/chicken broth;
  • 1 teaspoon scallion slices.

For marinate

  • 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch;
  • A pinch sugar;
  • 1/2 tablespoon liquid aminos (a healthier version of soy sauce) /soy sauce;
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy.

For black bean sauce

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons black bean, rinse and soak in water for 10 minutes;
  • 4 cloves garlic, peel and finely mince, about 1 teaspoon;
  • 1 piece ginger, about 2 oz (60 g), peel and mince, about 1 tablespoon;
  • 1 tablespoon liquid aminos;
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar, adjust to taste;
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.

For thickening sauce

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch;
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar;
  • 1/4 cup water;
  • 1 teaspoon liquid aminos/soy sauce;
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy.

Recipe:

Serving for 4, make about 20

For stuffed bitter melons

  1. Clean pork and pat dry, mince;
  2. Soak dry squids for 30 minutes;
  3. Get rid of soft bones and mouths;
  4. Cut squids to smaller pieces;
  5. Add to minced pork;
  6. Marinate minced pork and squids with minced ginger, cornstarch, sugar, liquid aminos and dark soy sauce, mix well;
  7. Cut bitter melons to 1” (2 1/2 cm) section;
  8. Scone out the seed in the middle;
  9. Stuff bitter melons with minced pork;
  10. Cover lightly with cornstarch;
  11. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to a frying pan over medium high heat;
  12. Shear stuffed bitter melons on both sides;
  13. Add water/chicken broth and cover, turn to simmer;
  14. Cook until bitter melons become translucent, about 12 minutes;
  15. Plate with black bean sauce and green scallion slices, serve hot.

For black bean sauce

  1. Press drained black beans, minced ginger and garlic to a mortar to paste;
  2. Mix with 1 tablespoon liquid aminos/soy sauce;
  3. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to a sauce pan over medium high heat;
  4. Sauté black bean mixture for 5 minutes or until paste like;
  5. Add thickening sauce;
  6. Turn off heat when it comes back to a boil and thickens.

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